Friction-clutch



(No Model.) Y

' G. A. BARNES.

FRICTION CLUTCH. No. 404,153. Patented May 28, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. BARNES, OF NEXF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,153, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed January 14, 1889. Serial No. 296,345. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BARNES, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin friction-clutches, the object being to provide a simple, compact, durable, and reliable de vice requiring little attention or repair.

\Vith these ends in View my invention consists in a band-clutch having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a friction-clutch embodying my invention, with the band thrown out to engage with the rim of the pulley. Fig. 2 is a View of the clutch in side elevation, with portions of the friction-band and the rim and spokes of the pulley in section. Fig. is an enlarged sectional view on the line a b of Fig. 1, and showing the attachment of the band and operating-lever to the carryingarm of the carrier. Fig. 4 is a detached view, in front elevation, of the said carrier. Fig. 5 a detached view of the friction-band. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the operatinglever, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing how the collar of the carrier is sleeved over the hub of the pulley and secured to the shaft.

As herein shown, the spokes A of the pulley are connected with the rim B thereof, near its edge, to adapt it to receive the frictionband C, which is located within the rim, so as to be frictionally engaged therewith; One end of this band is provided with an inwardly-projecting perforated lug, D, receiving a shouldered screw, E, which pivotally secures it to the carrying-arm F, offsetting from the rigid collar G, the inner end of which is chambered, as at H, to adapt it to be sleeved over the hub I of the pulley. A set-screw, J, located in the outer end of the said collar, is provided for securing the same to the shaft. The opposite end of the friction-band C is provided with an inwardly-projecting bearing-face, K, engaged by a set-screw, L, mounted in the outer end of the long operatinglever M, which is secured by a pivot, N, to the carrying-arm F aforesaid. The inner end of this lever is curved to escape the rigid collar G, and adapted to engage on the opposite side of the shaft from its pivotal connection with the carrying-arm, with a wedge-shaped operating-finger, 0, carried by a collar, P, movably mounted upon the shaft and having connections for automatically or manually shifting it so as to move its finger toward or away from the end of the operating-lever, for which a long leverage, in the minimum of space, is secured by constructing it as described. The inner end of the said operatinglever is prevented from being laterally displaced in either direction by an arm, Q, and a lug, R, between which it passes, such lug and arm being formed integral with the collar G. The inner end of the operatingfinger plays in a guideway, S, formed by the said lug and arm and by a similar but heavier arm, T, having a bearing-face, U, upon which the said finger slides. The two arms mentioned extend from the rigid collar in an opposite direction from the carrying-arm F thereof and counterbalance the weight of such carrying arm and the operating lever, the said collar G, the carrying-arm, and the two counterbalance-arms forming a carrier for the band and the opcrating-connections therefor. The pulley is kept in its. place upon the shaft by the rigid collar and by a small retaining-collar, V, secured to the shaft by a set-screw, IV, and bearing against the face of the pulley.

It will be noted that the bearing of the pulley on the shaft, through its hub, is equal in width to the width of the rim of the pulley.

The friction-band is constructed so that it springs and normally frees itself from the inner face of the rim of the pulley. \Vhen the band is so disengaged, the pulley rotates loosely on the shaft, the movable collar being shifted so as to disengage the wedge-face of its operating-fingerfromv the inner edge of the operating-lever without, however, entirely disengaging the finger from the said arms, which hold it in place, and hence hold the movable collar upon the shaft to which, therefore, the said collar need not be feathered.

W hen, however, the said movable collar is shifted to bring the wedge-face of its operat ing-linger under the outer end of the lever, the same is moved on its fulcrum with the effect of pressing the adjustable screw in its outer end against the inwardly-projecting l'iearing-face of the friction-band, whereby the band is sprung and expanded, and also turned on its screw E, so as to frictionally engage throughout its length with the inner face of the rim of the pulley, which thus coupled with the shaft so as to rotate therewith through the carrying-arm and rigid collar. Although the operating'lever is moved by the wedgeshaped end of the finger, it is held in its operating position by the straight edges thereof, which come under it when the collar completes its movement toward the pulley. The pulley will now rotate with the shaft until the operating-finger is withdrawn from engagement with the end of the operating-lever, when the natural spring of the band will cause it to contract again and disengage itself from the rim of the pulley.

The construction above described is very prompt and reliable in its action. It is also very durable, because the operating lever travels with the carrying-arm, and because the operating-finger does its work with little motion and applies its power under the most advantageous conditions of leverage.

I do not broadly claim a friction-clutch having an operating-finger carried by the shaft and connected with one end of a frictionband located within the rim of the pulley and normally disengaged therefrom, such construction being old, but only the specific construction by me shown and described.

I laving full y described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a pulley loosely mounted upon a shaft, of a friction-band normally disengaged from the said pulley, a carrier rigidlyconnected with. the shaft and having one end of the band attached to it, a single operating-lever pivoted to the carrier, connected with the opposite end of the band and curved to extend around on the opposite side of the shaft from its connection with the carrier and band, and a collar movably mounted upon the shaft and carrying a beveled operating-linger adapted to engage with the end of thelever,which is constructed, as d( scribed, to secure a long leverage and to occupy the minimum of room.

2. The combination, with a pulley loosely mounted upon a shaft, of a friction-band normally disengaged therefrom, a carrier rigidly connected with the shaft having a carryingarm to which one end of theband is attached, and two counterbalance-arms extending in opposite directions from the carryingar1n, a lever pivoted to the carryingarm and connected with the opposite end of the band, and a collar provided with an operating-finger movably mounted on the shaft engaging with the operating-lever and playing between the counterbalanee-arms, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a pulley loosely mounted upon a shaft, of a band normally disengaged from the said pulley, a carrier consisting of a collar chambered to fit over the hub of the pulley, a carrying-a in to which one end of the band is attached, and two counterbalance arms, an operating lever pivoted to the said carrying-arm and connected with the other end of the pulley, and a collar movably connected with the shaft and carrying an operating-finger playing between the counterbalance arms which confine it and prevent the collar from rotation with the shaft, and cooperating with the said lever to expand the band, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrilr in g witnesses.

' GEO. A. BARNES. Witnesses:

M. S. \VADIIAM, CHAS. l3. SIlUMWAY. 

